DESCRIPTION:
The A-10 resulted from a US Air Force requirement for a rugged attack plane to provide close-in support of
ground troops using guided munitions. Carrying one of the most powerful guns ever placed on an aircraft,
the 30-mm cannon fires "milk-bottle-size rounds" at rates of 2,100 or 4,200 shots per minute. The Warthog,
as the A-10 is frequently called, is also fitted with a high aspect ratio wing well suited to low speed
flight that provides hardpoints for a variety of bombs and missiles used for the close air support
mission. Though able to operate guided missiles and bombs using a laser-designator pod under the nose, the
avionics have remained simple for greater dependability and maintainability.

The A-10 is also designed for survivability given its role flying low and slow over the battlefield. The
A-10 is extremely rugged and able to continue flying even with an engine, a tail fin, or even part of a
wing shot off the plane. The A-10 also provides further protection against groundfire by encasing the
cockpit and the ammunition drum for the cannon within a titanium "tub."

Several A-10 aircraft have also been adapted as OA-10 forward air control (FAC) platforms. Typically armed
with rocket pods to mark targets and Sidewinder missiles for self-defense, the primary mission of the OA-10
is to locate targets and direct other aircraft in attacking them. The OA-10 is otherwise unchanged from
the basic A-10, and both aircraft received few updates after production ceased in the 1980s until about
2005.

Even early in its career, Air Force planners had questioned the usefulness of the A-10 in combat and
doubted its ability to survive against modern air defenses. Plans had called for the A-10 fleet to be
gradually retired and replaced by the F-16 during the 1990s. However, the
A-10 soon proved its worth during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 when the Warthog was credited with
destroying over 1,000 Iraqi tanks, 1,200 artillery pieces, and 2,000 other vehicles. Two A-10 pilots also
shot down Iraqi helicopters over Kuwait during the conflict.

Despite this success, the A-10 and OA-10 fleet was again in jeopardy of being retired during the late
1990s until its subsequent service in Afghanistan and Iraq again gave the attack plane a new lease on
life. Many of the surviving aircraft are being upgraded to the A-10C standard under the Precision
Engagement program. This upgrade includes updating the software and cockpit displays of older A-10
aircraft so they can carry the latest generation of guided weapons.

Over 700 examples of the A-10 were originally built for the US Air Force. Many have since been transferred
to the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves or retired from service. Approximately 350 remained in
use by 2004. As the A-10 fleet has been reduced, many of the retired planes have been offered for sale to
foreign nations.

Prototype that competed with the Northrop YA-9 for the Air Force A-X attack plane contract and won on 18
January 1973

A-10A

Production attack plane; 721 built, about 90 upgraded with a radar altimeter, GPWS, autopilot, a new bomb
sight, and the capability to use the 30-mm cannon against air units

OA-10A

A-10A airframes converted to the observation and forward air control (FAC) role

A-10T or A-10B

Proposed two-seat combat-capable trainer with an enlarged nose and taller tail fins that would have been
modified from existing A-10A models; 30 were to be converted but the variant was cancelled

A-10NAW or YA-10B

Two-seat Night Adverse Weather demonstrator developed by Fairchild from an A-10 prototype for consideration
by the USAF, included a second seat for a weapons officer responsible for ECM, navigation, and target
acquisition; did not enter production but many of its features were later incorporated into the A-10 fleet

A-10C

Precision Engagement upgrade for A-10A aircraft equipped with with new software and cockpit displays to
provide compatibility with precision guided weapons such as JDAM and WCMD